[ Carroll / Sylvie and Bruno ]
In Chapter 13 of this fantasy/experimental novel (one which significantly influenced James Joyce), Sylvie and Bruno visit Dogland, where they meet the King of the Dogs, who is — naturally ;) — a Newfoundland. Sylvie and Bruno, ignorant of proper protocol when greeting a monarch, accidentally insult His Majesty by patting him on the head and pretending to tie his ears together:
The Sentinel groaned aloud: a beautiful Greyhound who appeared to be one of the Ladies in Waiting — fainted away: and all the other Courtiers hastily drew back, and left plenty of room for the huge Newfoundland to spring upon the audacious strangers, and tear them limb from limb.
Only — he didn't. On the contrary his Majesty actually smiled so far as a Dog can smile — and (the other Dogs couldn't believe their eyes, but it was true, all the same) his Majesty wagged his tail!
Although the color of the King of the Dogs is never mentioned in the text, the above illustration by Harry Furniss (from the first edition) clearly shows that His Majesty was a Landseer. It is well-known that Carroll micro-managed his illustrators, so it's entirely possible Carroll specified a Landseer.
Sylvie and Bruno will later play fetch with His Majesty when he escorts them out of Dogland.
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